Systemic sclerosis may affect the esophagus and/or stomach, resulting in a change in function. Certain clinical findings in a patient should be clues of possible involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Findings with esophageal involvement:
(1) dysphagia
(2) odynophagia
(3) gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
(4) noncardiac chest pain, heartburn
(5) recurrent aspiration or chronic cough
(6) dyspnea (which may reflect concurrent pulmonary scleroderma)
Findings in gastric involvement related to gastroparesis and altered motility:
(1) nausea and vomiting
(2) feeling bloated
(3) weight loss
(4) early satiety
(5) abdominal pain
Findings related to gastric telangiectasis and "watermelon" stomach:
(1) anemia
(2) evidence of upper GI blood loss
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